I’ve got a delicious cookie recipe to share with you!  These cookies are nutty with a slightly crunchy texture thanks to heart-healthy chia seeds and flax meal.  Topped with a rich dark chocolate topping, you’ll have a hard time resisting that second cookie 🙂

Have you guys heard of CocoaVia?

How about this question…have you heard the buzz that chocolate is actually good for you (especially the dark kind!)?  OK! Now we are on the same page.

CocoaVia is a cocoa extract supplement that provides a high concentration of cocoa flavonols.  Cocoa what?  Flavonols…

Flavonols are a class (type) of flavonoids.  While they are not essential for short-term well-being (like vitamins and minerals), there is increasing research suggesting that ingesting these flavonols at moderate levels over a long period of time (for example as part of a healthy lifestyle) can have a positive effect on blood circulation.

Basically, there is research suggesting that cocoa (chocolate) promotes blood circulation.  Having good, healthy blood circulation helps vital nutrients and oxygen get to all the important organs in the body like the heart, brain, muscles, skin, etc.  (jumping for joy!!)

When I think of chocolate, the first thing that pops into my mind is peanut butter…anyone else’s brain work like that?  I think chocolate and peanut butter was truly a match made in heaven, so I decided to stick with that pairing and develop a heart-healthy cookie around it.

These cookies are packed with ingredients like heart healthy chia seeds, flax meal, and coconut oil.  While they ARE definitely a “healthy” cookie Brian has absolutely no problem gobbling them up.  (Don’t worry, he also has no problem telling me when something tastes a little too healthy.)

Check out my cooking video to learn how to make these DELICIOUS cookies for yourself!

Nutty CocoaVia Cookies:

Yields:  18-20 cookies

Ingredients:  

• 2 ripe mashed bananas (about 3/4-1 cup)
• 1 cup nut butter (peanut butter, sunflower butter, walnut butter)
• 3 Tbsp chia seeds
• 3 Tbsp flax meal (ground flax seed)
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 3 Tbsp maple syrup + 1 tsp maple syrup (divided)
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 Tbsp coconut oil
• 1 Tbsp coconut butter
• 1 packet Unsweetened Dark Chocolate Cocoavia

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
2. In a large mixer bowl, combine the mashed bananas and nut butter. Mix until thoroughly combined.
3. Add the chia seeds, flax meal, baking soda, maple syrup and vanilla extract to the banana nut butter mixture. Mix until combined, scraping down the sides as needed.
4. Scoop by tablespoonful onto prepared baking sheet.  You should have about 18-20 cookies.  It’s ok to place them close together because these cookies don’t spread while baking.
5. Bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes.  Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes.
6. While the cookies are cooling, melt the coconut butter and coconut oil over low in a small sauce pan.
7. Add the final tsp of maple syrup and the packet of CocoaVia.  The mixture should be drippy like chocolate syrup.
8. Drop the topping on top of each cookie.  Transfer the cookies to the freezer for 10 minutes to allow the topping to harden.
9. Enjoy!!

You can store these cookies in the fridge, freezer, or on the counter but I prefer to store in the freezer so they last longer AND they are delicious as a cold treat.

Question of the Morning:

• What is your favorite way to indulge in chocolate?

**I received complementary product and compensation for my time on this post, but all opinions and sources listed are my own.

Sources:

• Dietary (Poly)phenolics in Human Health:  Structures, Bioavailability, and Evidence of Protective Effects Against Chronic Diseases 
• Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Risk of Major Chronic Disease 
• Nutrition and Health Info Sheet:  Some Facts About Phytochemicals 
• Flaxseed and Cardiovascular Health 
• Chia Seeds Supplement Review Cleveland Clinic 
• Ask the Doctor:  Coconut Oil